Electric panel



March 1o, 1942. L. W. COLE 'ET L 2,276,226

ELECTRIC PANEL l Filed Jan. 9, 1940 4 shaven-sheer 1 /C 28 4o 24 L 58 26 87 l C 11 C 84 l2 8o 2 f s4 ,L l) wfg /44 47 lof' C (/@V 42/ EQm/E u, /a @m C l: @Si l 87;

'Bmfcntor dttorncu MarchI 10, 1942.. L.. w. COLE ET A1. 2,276,226

ELECTRI C PANEL Filed Jan. E5,k 1,940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 55:4 7/2 o 2o QO- la 7i g 745,0 M@ @'T March 10, 1942.

l.. w. COLE ET AL 2,276,226

ELECTRIC PANEL Filed Jan. 9, `194C 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 f 2 34 r 3 /78 7s D E /47 /E D//ll o 84 /42- '2' E 7s v k Y 74 70 74 52 L-L "52 Snventor Gttomeg March 10, 1942. l l.a w. COLE ET Al.

ELECTRIC PANEL Filed Jan. 9,1940

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Gttorneg Patented Mar. 10, 1942 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC PANEL Application January 9, 1940, Serial No. 313,072

14 Claims.

This invention relates to electric panels and more particularly to fuse panels of the panel box type.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a panel of the character described constructed and arranged so that the trim member can be mounted evenly with respect to the wall in the recess of which the panel box is positioned, without requiring adjustments of the elements within said box.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a panel of a combination fuse base and switch frame which can be assembled and wired when the frame, fuse base, and switches are out of the box. This facilitates the assembly and wiring and eliminates soiling of the fuse base and frame, which might otherwise occurf, for example, during plastering or other building work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination fuse base and switch frame constructed and arranged to permit the switches t be mounted in position without precise spacing of parts of the frame in relation to the fuse base. More specifically, for accomplishing this object the fuse base and switch frame has one or more elements which are resiliently movable toward and away from the fuse base to permit the switches to be mounted and secured in position to and between the fuse base and said parts of the frame even though the latter are not precisely spaced from the fuse base.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the diliculty heretofore encountered in registering the shield with the fuse base, and further to eliminate the diiculty of registering the switches with the openings in the shield. These diculties were encountered heretofore in panel boxes in which the shield is fixed to the trim member or when the mounting for the switches at the outer ends thereof are formed rigidly with the box.

The above and other objects of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description considered with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a panel embodying the present invention, showing the panel box and associated parts in assembled relation and showing the cover of the trim member in open position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, showing the cover in partially open position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the door in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the panel box with the shield and trim member removed;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the shield;

Fig. 6 is a rear View in elevation of the trim member, showing the door in closed position;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the frame for the fuse base and switches, the fuse base and switches being removed;

Fig. 8 is a front view of a panel embodying another form of the present invention, the trim member being removed;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line S--B of Fig. 8 with the trim member in position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and rst to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the panel comprises a box or housing I0 which customarily is made of metal for housing the fuse base or other electrical receptacle I2 and the switches I5. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the box I0 is installed in a, recess in a building wall, the front of the box being spaced slightly rearwardly of the outer surface of said wall. Trim member I4 is secured to the front of the box removably, as by screws I6 threaded into openings I8 provided in the opposite inturned flanges 20 of the side walls 22 of said box. It will be understood that trim member I4 engages the adjacent outer surface portions of the building wall when the panel box is mounted on the recess therein and lies sufficiently close to the shield 28 to meet the usual requirements. Said trim member has an opening 24 to provide access to the fuse base I2 and switches I5 and has a hinged cover 26 for said opening.

In accordance with the present invention the shield member 28 is formed separately from the trim member I4 and is associated with a fuse base and switch frame 3l] and with the fuse base I2 and switches I5 mounted on said frame. As shown, said shield has an opening 32 through which the front of fuse base I2 projects slightly, the front reduced periphereal edge portion of said fuse base fitting in said openings with but slight clearance, and the narrow peripheral shoulders I3 of said base adjacent said reduced edge portion lying inwardly of said opening. Said shield is, as shown (Fig. 5), in the form of a shallow pan, having side walls 34 and 36 which are integral with and extend forwardly from the shield plate 38 so that the free edges of said side Walls lie sufficiently close to the inner surface of trim member I4, when said shield is mounted on frame 38 and when said trim member is in position, to meet the requirements. The provision of shield 28 as a member separate from the trim member I4 eliminates the diihculty of registering the shield with the fuse base I2, which diiculty is frequently encountered when the shield is in fixed relation with the trim member. The trim member I4 is provided with means forming a rabbet at the edges of the openings 24 so that the cover 26 when moved to closed position can have its outer surface flush with the outer surface of the trim member. The rabbet-forming means is, as here shown, constituted by metal strips 40, 42 and 44 secured to the rear surface of trim member I4, preferably by welding, and extending on the inner surface of said trim member slightly beyond the edges of openings 24. Pairs of companion hinge members 46 and 48 are secured to the trim member and to the door 26, respectively, for pivotally mounting said cover on said trim member. Cover 26 is provided with a latch 4'I and with a latch-operating member 49.

The frame 30 (Fig. 7) provided in accordance with the present invention comprises a pair of U-shaped straps 50 disposed in spaced relation and carrying at their upper outturned end portions 52 side rails 54 which are constituted by angle members. Said side rails 54 are xedly secured to straps B preferably by being welded to said outturned portions 52. A plate 56 is secured to straps 50 preferably by being welded thereto and forms a mounting for the fuse base I2. As here shown, said fuse base I2 is constituted by a plurality of individual insulation blocks I2a provided with sockets or receptacles I2b for the usual plug fuses (not shown). Said blocks are removably secured to mounting plate 5S in the usual way as by screws I2C. Each block has a pair of terminals as indicated at 12d. Terminal blocks 58 and 6i) are also mounted on and removably secured to mounting plate 56 of frame 3U, said terminal blocks being concealed by plate 38 0f shield 28 when the latter is in position.

Frame 30 is a combination fuse base and switch frame. For this purpose side rails 54 are provided with a plurality of threaded openings 62 disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of said side rails in alignment or substantially in alignment with threaded openings me in each receptacle block I2a of fuse base I2. The mounting strap I5a of switch I5 is secured at one end thereof to a companion block I2a by a screw 64 and said mounting strap is secured at its other end to the adjacent side rail 54 of frame 30 by a screw 66, said screws being threaded into said openings I2e and 62, respectively. The terminal block 68 is also preferably provided with threaded openings 68 in alignment with threaded openings 62 of side rails 54 to permit switches to be secured to said terminal block.

The upstanding portions 'I8 of straps 50 are resiliently movable toward and away from each other and from the adjacent ends of receptacle blocks I2a of fuse base I2, said straps 50 being made of metal which is sufiiciently resilient for this purpose. This resiliency permits the switches I5 to be readily installed even though the side rails 54 are not precisely spaced from the adjacent ends of receptacle blocks I2a and even though the threaded openings 62 are not precisely located in reference to the distance between the ends of switch straps I5a. Also, this resiliency of upstanding strap portions i8 of frame 38 facilitates the installation of shield 28. The combination fuse base and switch frame 30 is removably secured to the rear wall 'l2 oi box I 0. For this purpose each strap 58 is provided with a pair of open-end notches 'M in which are engaged the shanks of screws 18 threaded into said rear wall 12. It will be understood that the fuse base and switches can be assembled with frame 38 and much of the wiring can be done while these parts are out of box I0, and thereafter the frame 3D carrying said fuse base and switches as well as the other electrical equipment mounted on plate 56 of frame 30 can be installed as a unit in box Iii by mounting straps 5|] on screws 16, notches i4 of said straps engaging over said screws. Also, if desired, the shield 28 can be assembled and se cured to frame 36 prior to the installation of said frame in box I8. Said shield is provided with openings 'I8 for the passage of screws 83 which are threaded into openings S2 in side rails 54 of frame 38 for securing the shield removably in position. Shield 28 is also provided with a plurality of knock-outs 84 to provide openings for the projection through the shield plate 38 of the switch-actuating members, one of said openings being indicated by way of example at 86 in Fig. 1. The housing or box I8 is, of course, also provided with knock-outs for wiring, some of said knock-outs being indicated at 8l.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, in the panel made in accordance with this form of the invention, the frame for the fuse base does not include means for mounting switches or for supporting the shield 28. Said shield 28 is of the same construction as the shield 28 illustrated in Fig. 5 except that it is not provided with knock-outs to accommodate switch-operating parts. In this form of the invention, the fuse base l2 is mounted on a plate 56 which constitutes the frame for said fuse base. Said plate 56' is secured to the rear wall 'I2 of the panel box I8 by screws 'I6 which engage in notches 'I4' in said plate. The shield 28 is secured to fuse base I2 and more particularly to the blocks IZa by screws 88, passing through openings in the shield plate 38' and threaded into openings I2e of blocks I2a. It will be understood that while we have shown and described two forms of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the latter may be embodied otherwise than as here shown and that certain changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts may be made. Therefore, we do not wish to be limited to the constructions of the fuse panels as herein shown or described except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A panel for electric equipment, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a recess in a building wall, a frame mounted in said housing and carrying a fuse base or the like, said frame having side members spaced laterally from said fuse base, a shield removably secured to said side members and having an opening for providing access to said base, a trim member separate from said shield positioned at the front of said housing over said shield, said trim extending outwardly beyond the side Walls of said housing for overlapping the outer surface of said wall around said recess, and means separate from said shield for securing said trim member in said position and for engagement of said outwardly extending portions thereof with the outer surface of the building wall around said recess.

2. A panel for electric equipment, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a recess in a building wall, a frame mounted in said housing and carrying a fuse base or the like, said frame having side members spaced laterally from said fuse base, said base and said side members of said frame having provision forr the connection thereto of one or more switches, a shield removably secured to said side members and having an opening for providing access to said base, said shield also having provision for access to the switches mounted on said base and frame, a trim member separate from said shield positioned at the front of said housing over said shield, and means for securing said trim member in said position and for engagement with the outer surface oi the building wall.

3. A panel for electric equipment, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a recess in a building wall, a frame mounted in said housing and carrying a fuse base or the like, said frame having side members spaced laterally from said fuse base and movable laterally toward and away from the opposite sides, respectively, of said base, a shield removably secured to said side members and having an opening for providing access to said base, a trim member separate from said shield positioned at the front of said housing over said shield, and means separate from said shield for securing said trim member in said position to said housing independently of said shield and for engagement with the outer surface of the building wall.

4. A panel for electric equipment, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a recess in a building wall, a frame mounted in said housing and carrying a fuse base or the like, said frame having side members spaced laterally from said fuse base and movable laterally toward and away from said base, said base and said side members of said frame having provision for the connection thereto of one or more switches, a shield removably secured to said side members and having an opening for providing access to said base, said shield also having provision for access to the switches fmounted on said base and frame, a trim member separate from said shield positioned at the front of said housing over said shield, and means for securing said trim member in said position and for engagement with the outer surface of the building wall.

5. A panel for electric equipment, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a recess in a building wall, a frame mounted in said housing, said frame comprising two straps disposed in spaced relation and each having an intermediate portion and upstanding end portions, a plate secured to said intermediate portions of said straps, side members secured to said upstanding portions of said straps, a fuse base secured to said plate, a shield secured to said side members of the frame and having an opening for providing access to said base, and a trim member positioned at the front of said housing and removably secured in said position.

6. kA panel for electric equipment, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a recess in a building wall, a frame mounted in said housing, said frame comprising two straps disposed in spaced relation and each having an intermediate of said straps, a fuse base secured to said plate,

said side members being movable laterally toward and away from said base, said side members and said base having provision for the connection thereto of one or more switches, a shield secured to said side members of the frame and having an opening for providing access to said base, and a trim member position at the front of said housing and removably secured in said position.

7. A panel for electric equipment, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a recess in a building wall, a frame mounted in said housing, said frame comprising two straps disposed in spaced relation and each having an intermediate portion and upstanding ilexible end portions, a plate secured to said intermediate portions of said straps, side members secured to said upstanding portions of said straps, a fuse base secured to said plate, said side members being movable laterally toward and away from said base, said side members and said base having provision for the connection thereto of one or more switches, a shield secured to said side members of the frame and having an opening for providing access to said base, and a trim member positioned at the front of said housing and removably secured in said position.

8. A combination fuse base and switch frame adapted to be mounted in a panel box, said frame comprising two straps disposed in spaced relation and each having an intermediate portion and upstanding end portions, a plate secured to said intermediate portions of said straps, side members secured to said upstanding portions of said straps, a fuse base secured to said plate, said base and side members having provision for the connection thereto of one or more switches.

9. A combination fuse base and switch frame adapted to be mounted in a panel box, said frame comprising two straps disposed in spaced relation and each having an intermediate portion and upstanding end portions, a plate secured to 'said intermediate portions of said straps, side portion and upstanding end portions, a plate semembers secured to said upstanding portions of said straps, a fuse base secured to said plate, said base and side members having provision for the connection thereto of one 0r more switches, and a shield adapted to be secured to said side members and having an opening for providing access to said fuse base.

10. A combination fuse base and switch frame adapted to be mounted in a panel box, said frame comprising two straps disposed in spaced relation and each having an intermediate portion and upstanding end portions, a plate secured to said intermediate portions of said straps, side members secured to said upstanding portions of said straps, a fuse base secured to said plate, said side members being vspaced laterally of said fuse base and movable laterally toward and away therefrom.

11. A combination fuse base and switch frame adapted to be mounted in a panel box, said frame comprising two straps disposed in spaced relation and each having an intermediate portion and upstanding ilexible end portions, a plate secured to said intermediate portions of said straps, side members secured to said upstanding portions of said straps, a fuse base secured to said plate, said side members being spaced laterally of said fuse base and movable laterally toward and away therefrom.

12. A combination fuse base and switch frame adapted to be mounted in a panel box, said frame comprising two straps disposed in spaced relation and each having an intermediate portion and upstanding iiexible end portions, a plate secured to said intermediate portions of said straps, side members secured to said upstanding portions of said straps, a fuse base secured to said plate, said base and side members having provision for the connection thereto of one or more switches.

13. A combination fuse base and switch frame adapted to be mounted in a panel box, said frame comprising two straps disposed in spaced relation and each having an intermediate portion and upstanding iiexible end portions, a plate secured to said intermediate portions of said straps, side members secured to said upstanding portions of said straps, a fuse base secured to said plate, said side members being spaced laterally of said fuse base and movable laterally toward and away therefrom, said base and side members having provision for the connection thereto of one or more switches.

14. A panel for electric equipment, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a recess in a building wall, a frame mounted in said housing and carrying a fuse base or the like, a shield positioned in said housing and comprising a plate having an opening for providing access to said base and having upstanding side walls terminating in free edges disposed adjacent the front of said housing, a trim member separate from said shield and adapted to be secured in position at the front of said housing adjacent said edges of the side walls of said shield, said trim extending outwardly beyond the side Walls of said housing for overlapping the outer surface of said Wall around said recess, said trim member having an opening for providing access to said base through said shield opening, means separate from said shield for securing said trim member to said housing in said position at the front of the housing independently of said shield, means Xed to the inner surface of said trim member forming a rabbet at said opening of the trim member in position overlying said free edges of said shield, and a cover adapted to seat in said rabbet.

LOUIS W. COLE. CHRISTOPHER I. SMITH. 

